Thanks for the reference Dan, my source for the efficiency
information was Griffin, but it was the person that answers
the phone, as we all know, probably not the expert.
Here is what the web site says, in part:
"Copper is a good heat conductor, but solder required to
bond the tubes to fin creates an insulation point that
prevents some heat transfer. Aluminum tubes are welded
rather than soldered to the aluminum tanks, providing a more
efficient conductor for cooling efficiency." And they go on.
"Aluminum is much stronger, allowing the use of considerably
wider tubes. Wider tubes allow more direct contact between
the fins and the tube, increasing the radiator’s capacity to
dissipate heat away from the engine."
What I should have written:
"According to the manufacturers, aluminum radiators will
cool about 20% [to 30%] better than "standard" radiators.
There are two reasons for this. One, [because of their
construction] aluminum [radiators] conduct heat better than
traditional radiators. Two, because the tubes are [stronger
and therefore larger] in aluminum radiators they have more
contact with the cooling fins than the [smaller flat copper]
tubes found in traditional radiators."
By the way I just got off the phone with Griffin again this
a.m. I was told that either JEGS or Summit can custom order
a custom Griffin Radiator. I don't know what the price
savings would be but the following is the type of savings
you can expect on a standard Griffin radiator.
On a 2-26185-X JEGS or Summit sell it for $218.99, and
Griffin sells it for $290.00. About a 25% savings.
Larry Hoy
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-mgb-v8@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-mgb-v8@autox.team.net]On
> Behalf Of DANMAS@aol.com
> Sent: Monday, January 24, 2000 10:28 AM
> To: larryhoy@prodigy.net; jimbb88@erols.com;
> mgb-v8@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Aluminum Radiators
>
>
> In a message dated 1/24/2000 3:50:44 AM Eastern
> Standard Time,
> larryhoy@prodigy.net writes:
>
> > According to the manufacturers aluminum radiators will
cool
> > about 20% better than "standard" radiators. There are
two
> > reasons for this. One, aluminum [radiators] conduct
heat better than
> > traditional radiators. Two, because the tubes are
> > flat in aluminum radiators they have more contact with
the
> > cooling fins than the round tubes found in traditional
> > radiators.
>
> Larry,
>
> Thanks for the info, but I'm going to have to
> disagree with you just a bit.
> However, rather than just coming out and
> contradicting you and making a fool
> of myself, I will give you a reference source (I
> don't know ANYTHING
> personally, but I have sources that do <g>):
> http://griffinrad.com/whyaluminum.htm. Your first
> statement above is correct,
> but your statement about aluminum being the
> better conductor isn't. Your last
> statement is "sorta" correct. It's correct in
> that a flat tube will indeed
> make better contact with the cooling fins, but
> copper/brass tubes are also
> flat. There are several reasons why aluminum
> radiators will cool better than
> a copper/brass radiator in a given application,
> and they are all explained in
> the above referenced site.
>
> For my TR6 V8 conversion (alas, still very much
> under construction), I first
> had a thick core copper/brass radiator custom
> made at a local radiator shop
> (for a very small price, BTW), but it weighed a
> ton! I chose that route to
> avoid cutting the frame to make room for a larger
> radiator. When I saw how
> much it weighed, and the fact that it was a thick
> core, I decided to go ahead
> and cut the frame and use an aluminum radiator
> with a larger surface area and
> a thick core. I bought a Griffen radiator made
> for a Mustang 302, which
> weighed a whopping 15 pounds less than the
> copper/brass radiator it replaced,
> even though it's larger. 15 pounds hanging out at
> the very front of the car
> can make a difference!
>
> I also have some info on cooling concerns on my
> engine swap website, at:
> http://members.aol.com/danmas/design.htm. Scroll
> down to the "cooling"
> section.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Dan
|